Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-09
WILLIAM WALLACE.
TER FIRST GREAT HERO OF SCOTTISH
INDEPENDENCE.
Some Interesting Pacts-His Character
and HIS Work and His
Battles, &C.
IBy Rev. David Macras, Dundeo.I

dependence. | refer 10 the death OF
William Wallace, the Scottish cham
pion. Edward J., OF England, "the
hammer of the Scottish nation" had
been engaged for fifteen years in at
tempting to break to pieces the little
kingdom TO the north Of his own, to
crush the national spirit, and turn
Scotland into a district of England.
He seemed in that year 1906 10 have
almost succeeded. The Scottish mobiles,
who held the land. but who formed no
real part Of the Scottish race, had been
source OF weakness instead of strength
10 the Scottish cause. Some of them
had estates in England as we'll as in
Scotland =; and while almost compelled
by their people h. side with the Ma
tional cause, and willing to do so when
it promised success, they were ready
whenever disaster came 10 make peace
with the English King and sacri-
fee their own honor and their
country's liberties 10 save their
skins. Scotland was thus divided
and weakened 10y its time serYing no.
bilty; and in 1905 lay PROSTATE at the
IGtN VI Ato SiltAANs ASub AlANA0 WAC OAit
man in Scotland who had never bowed
the knee 10 Edward-one man who had
refused, even in the darkest days OF
disaster, to accept Edwards terms OF
for one moment to acknowledge his au-
thOritv That man was William Wal
lsce-the true champion Of the strug-
Cling nation. So long IS Wallace lived
and was at large, one danger 10 English
supromacy--one hope for Scottish in
deIendcnce-rc remained unexhnguished
Edward had, therefore, sought by every
means III his power to hunt the patriot
down.
At last in August of that year, 1906,
Wallace. while asleep, was betrayed at
Rohroyston, near Glasgow, into the
hands Of sir John Monteith, and was
bv linn hurried in chains to England.
The nOWs 81 his capture spread like
vildhro before him, and great was the
excitement and jubiation OF the English
pcOplc over the eapture of their most
formidable foe. lie was brought into
London on August Dist, and next day
Was taken to Westminster Hall to DO
tried. He was followed by q great
multitude Of people, who, whom they
leheld his calm and dignifed
bearing under tho shameful humilia-
ton Of his treatment, were moved
many Of them to admiration and pity.
At Westminster Hall Wallace was for
mally impeAched as 8 traitor to the
King of England, and charged with
storming castles, burning villages and
towns. and Staying the liegs subjects OF
LIS master. tho King. To this indict-
ment Wallace calmly and nobly replied
that a traitor hs could not be, as he
had never been subject of the English
hing, and could not violate an ale
sialCe which he had never given and
never owed. As to tho other things
charged against him, he had done
them all. and moro, in dischsrging his
duty 10 his country, in attempting to
maintain her Liberties and punish her
invaders and Oppressors. That answer
was enough. lie was at once con-
dcmned, and the sentence was one
which has stamped indelible infamy on
the name of the English King. He was
first TO be dragged on a hurdle to the |
place of execution, hung for a certain
time by the neck, and then taken |
down, while yet alive, to have his en-
trails torn out and burned before his |
face. His body was then to be quartered |
and exhibited in different places as =
Warning TO others.
Tic prelude to this diabohcal sen
tenco deserves special attention. Some |
English writer's who want Scotland to |
he regarded as merely part OF Eng |
lard and to this end seek to belittle
Der history, her heroes, and her trium- !,
phaut struggle for independence, have
described Wallace as n mere marauder
end robber chief. l have seen such
descriptions even in school-books pre-
Jared for English schools. Readers
who have been mislcd by such
writer's would do well to mark
lie terms OF the sentence Of death,
which, from the very mouth of his enc
mics give the lie to these perversions of
history. The sentence stated in its
prelude that after Edward had con-
Qucred Scotland and received the hO-
mage Of It's prslates, earls, barons, and
others, and had proclaimed his peace
through the realm, the foresaid Wal
lace had raised an immense body OF
followers. had attacked the English
officers. and slain Hazelrigg, the sheriff
Of Lanark-that, gaining strength
and influence, he stormed the English
garnsons, caused his writs to run
through all Scotland as if he were the
superior lord Of that realm-thst he
Parliaments-that he at
tempted to league himself with the
King of France-that he ravaged
Northumberland, Cumberland, and
Wesmoreland-that he opposed the
King of England in pitched bsttle-and
hat, when defeated, he refused to avail
himself of the terms of peace then held
)ut for bis acceptance.
Wallace had done more than this.
lie bad defeated the English army at
stirling Bridge, on tho famous field
DOW overlooked 10y his monument on
Abbey Craig. There seems, indeed, lit
lie doubt now that but for the perfidy of
wo Scottish mobiles (the Earl OF Angus
md Patrick. Earl of Dunbar, who be-
rayed Wallace's movements TO the
English King, the English army which
ne led into Scotland in 1898 would have
net with the same fate as Surveys at
Stir ling Bridge Edward |. would have
received the crushing blow from Wal
ace in the Lothians, which his son re-
'eiyCd from Bruce at Bannockburn, and
ScOtlands independence would have
Jeon achieved sixteen years before 1t
vas.
Betrayed by the mobiles at Falkirk,
Na.lace's army, after desperate strug-
lie, which at one stage was like 10 have
zen successful, was at length broken
nd scattered. Betrayed at Robroyston
nto the hands Of the enemies, Wallace
imself suffered at Smithteld, London,
he horrible death 10 which he had been
bamefully condemned.
30 persisted Scotland's II tional
ero-a man whOi in any age would have
cen illustrious, but who stands forth
loIe noble by contrast with the selfish ,
I'D iaithless mobiles who did 80 much ,
, bring defeat upon him and upon the !
ahonal cause. I
Among the faifhioss, faiihfui only he; .
noug iuuutDernlls false. uDmOVe1, .